]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2018/01/10/team-talk-tuesday-taiwan-baseball-quality-with-luke/feed/0444Team Talk Tuesday – Seven things to do to help grow your social media accounthttps://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/19/team-talk-tuesday-seven-things-to-do-to-help-grow-your-social-media-account/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/19/team-talk-tuesday-seven-things-to-do-to-help-grow-your-social-media-account/#respondTue, 19 Sep 2017 02:57:24 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=333So, today’s podcast is all about being helpful. Here are 7 things I would do to help build more awareness around your social media account.

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/19/team-talk-tuesday-seven-things-to-do-to-help-grow-your-social-media-account/feed/0333Team Talk Tuesday: Stolen Ideas and what to dohttps://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/11/team-talk-tuesday-stolen-ideas-and-what-to-do/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/11/team-talk-tuesday-stolen-ideas-and-what-to-do/#respondMon, 11 Sep 2017 23:28:59 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=327In this episode Special Guest Ella from You’re My Type and I discuss around the topic of ideas and what happens when people do what you do.

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/09/03/team-talk-tuesday-value/feed/0262Team Talk Tuesday: Relevance or Developmenthttps://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/30/team-talk-tuesday-relevance-or-development/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/30/team-talk-tuesday-relevance-or-development/#respondWed, 30 Aug 2017 22:35:26 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=201This weeks Team Talk Tuesday Revolves around the thoughts of being socially relevant, and the sacrifice that can take on your personal artistic development.

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/30/team-talk-tuesday-relevance-or-development/feed/0201Develop > Discoveredhttps://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/20/develop-discovered/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/20/develop-discovered/#respondSun, 20 Aug 2017 23:45:51 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=224I have had a pleasure of having several conversations around the vast distance between the thinking of a professional designer (someone who is getting paid to design) and (how to put this in a way no one gets offended) a designer who is yet to be paid for work. This has become visible with conversations […]

]]>I have had a pleasure of having several conversations around the vast distance between the thinking of a professional designer (someone who is getting paid to design) and (how to put this in a way no one gets offended) a designer who is yet to be paid for work. This has become visible with conversations centered around the motivation behind how you run your social media accounts.

Too often I see talented creative people on Instagram / Behance who limit their development. How do they limit their development? Simple, they do the same thing, over and over again.

This may come as a shock to you, but there is more than just one sport being played in the world.

“But i wont get as many likes if i don’t do (insert particular sport)”.

“People will stop following me if I don’t do (insert particular sport)”.

My wife told me a quote the other day. Success can be your biggest failure. I’m sure we have all seen numerous sports stars have a standout season and then are unable to reach the highs again. Its the same with your social media account.

If success is X amount of likes, or X amount of followers then you are putting a lid on your own success.

Too many times i stumble upon an account that has 250 followers, yet they are a sports designer working for a major sports team / association / news agency. It is these accounts I like sharing in my Instagram story because they are direct proof that your 50, 500, 5000 followers mean little to nothing at the end of the day.

Your development as an artist, creative, designer…whatever you call yourself should be your number 1 priority. I have countless conversations with 14,15,16 year old punks that will honestly destroy me, take my job and leave me washing cars for a living because of how talented they are. They ask “how do I get work?” ‘Whats my next step?” My answer EVERY time is to develop. Watch YouTube tutorials, branch out, learn Illustrator, learn InDesign, dam learn After Effects cause that’s where the money will be at in 10 years.

The amount of incredible artists I see that purely do male + one sport (2 at max) art pieces is insane. So much wasted potential.

Here is some insight, you cant create the same way for Basketball and Football (Soccer). Body position, grass, lighting, motion, its all different. The difference between designing for men and women is subtle, but massive. You cant design the same between NFL, NRL, AFL, Soccer, (all “football” by the way). Each sport is unique.

My encouragement is dont waste your potential chasing followers and likes. Your development is more valuable than your discovery.

Those who focus on development will get discovered. Those who focus on being discovered wont develop.

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/20/develop-discovered/feed/0224The 4 elements every design needshttps://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/19/the-4-elements-every-design-needs/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/19/the-4-elements-every-design-needs/#respondSat, 19 Aug 2017 23:44:56 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=222When I get asked for feedback on an artists piece I generally look at it through specific filters. Art has so many dimensions and so many theoretical ways to be viewed and dissected. Truth is I like to simplify it into 4 easy to understand and apply elements. Balance I think well appreciated artwork has […]

]]>When I get asked for feedback on an artists piece I generally look at it through specific filters. Art has so many dimensions and so many theoretical ways to be viewed and dissected. Truth is I like to simplify it into 4 easy to understand and apply elements.

Balance

I think well appreciated artwork has balance. A balance of colour, a balance of light, a balance with proportion, a balance with size, a balance with subject and background. The list could go on, but I feel that balance, when looking at an artwork is felt, more than understood.

You can look at a piece and it be out of balance and you know it.

You just know it and the harmony of what has been made hasn’t reached its potential.

A big one I find is that sports digital designers don’t align their artwork to achieve balance. For no reason the subject is to the right, left, top or bottom and it leaves the artwork out of sync and out of balance. I’m not suggesting that you have to centre your subject every time, but with all the elements, their needs to be harmony. If you don’t know anything about the rule of thirds, that maybe something to google.

Ask yourself, is there balance in this artwork I have just created? Do all the pieces work well together. Does everything look in place? These are all real questions I ask myself when making artwork.

2. Contrast

Contrast helps entertain your viewer. By utilising dark and light you have the opportunity to create depth. This is important. Blacks, shadows, highlights, whites, they all play a massive part in your composition (the thing you just made) and creating contrast in your art work is really important.

This is more than just turning up the “contrast” level on your piece. You have the opportunity to colour your blacks and whites to work together, or fight each other, depending on the theme of your piece. This helps create entertainment for the viewer.

Ask yourself, have I utilised contrast enough in this artwork? Can I tough up parts to create more depth, more brightness, helping you engage your viewer for a longer experience of your artwork?

Eye travel.

I think I may have made this up. Maybe not. I cant remember where this term came from, but it doesn’t make it any less important.

In a world of swiping and your artwork being viewed for a potential 2 seconds, its important to understand the element of eye travel and why taking your viewer on a visual journey in your artwork is extremely important.

What is in your artwork that makes a viewer look longer? I’m not talking about creating chaos for the viewer to sift through like a where’s Wally book, but more so, what little details are added to your artwork to give it reason to hold people’s attention?

It is an engagement of the sub conscious with the hope to engage with the viewer for a longer amount of time.

If you are wanting to work in the sports digital design industry it is something that makes potential employees focus on you on someone else. If you put enough in, they will notice.

Back that with “Simple is best” attitude. I’m not suggesting you flood your artwork with an overwhelming about of elements that don’t make sense. Remember, balance. I have felt myself become more simple in my approach, and focussing on creating a few fantastic elements in each piece, rather than lots of pointless elements just to look busy.

Purpose

Why are you creating this piece? What’s the point? Seriously, why did you make your last piece? There are a few reasons why I create:

Work

Yay! Work, being paid to create. The dream right? Yeah…it kinda is. If its your passion to create sports art and be paid for it, then work is a goal to have. There are plenty of posts I do to share recent work for recent clients

Join the conversation

This is the drive for most sports designers. They create artwork based around real time events, results, experiences and share their opinion or creative expression on what is happening. This is great for exposure and injecting yourself into the social conversation.

Personal Development.

You may have seen me branding my work on social media as “Personal Development” pieces. This is because I want to be clear on why I am posting and allowing people to see my journey. Every Saturday I try to create 4 pieces for the week. All different, female, male, different sports, different styles. I like to be a mixed bag of Doritos. So I post them with the description that my purpose is development. Sometimes I get lots of engagement, sometimes it flops. Either way, I am winning because I am developing.

Another question I ask when giving feedback is “Why is _______ doing _______?” or Why is ____________ in the artwork?” If you can’t answer why something is in your piece, maybe question if it should be there. There should be purpose to why you have made the decision to create your artwork, and also the question of why you have included specific elements in your artwork.

So, lots to think about, but hopefully this helps you see your artwork in a new light and helps you in making decisions around what makes your artwork fantastic.

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/19/the-4-elements-every-design-needs/feed/0222How to achieve constant creativity.https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/18/how-to-achieve-constant-creativity/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/18/how-to-achieve-constant-creativity/#respondFri, 18 Aug 2017 23:44:31 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=220Are you looking for a golden ticket to ultimate creativity? A stream of never ending ideas, concepts and ideas to use that will help create a constant flow of art for your followers. Sounds like a dream. To be fair, it is. Inspiration and creativity is one of the biggest topics for young sports designers. […]

]]>Are you looking for a golden ticket to ultimate creativity? A stream of never ending ideas, concepts and ideas to use that will help create a constant flow of art for your followers. Sounds like a dream. To be fair, it is.

Inspiration and creativity is one of the biggest topics for young sports designers. How do I keep inspired? How do I increase my creativity?

There is not one lineal answer to this challenge. Let me paint a picture to potentially help you figure out how you work.

Here is a list of things that may help you get / keep being inspired.

Don’t limit your options

A lot of designers stick to one sport, one style, one app / program. My advice, break your own mould and start to venture out of your comfort zone. Doing the same thing over and over will get boring and doesn’t help your development.

Value Research

Give yourself time to expand your mind. No, I’m not talking about drugs, I am talking about research. I think the only way I can keep creating new things is by seeing new things. Ill share a list of sites I regularly visit, but one massive one is going for a walk… get outside, go to the shops. I love visiting the House of Hoops in the Brisbane CBD. It is just a rad place. Yeah, it’s footlocker shop but their art is new, and refreshing.

RestTaking time out, away from the screen is important. Get a pencil in your hand and draw something. Sketching, thumbnails, anything.

The UnknownAsk yourself “what haven’t I seen before?” and come up with some ideas to answer that question. That’s what true artistic leaders will do.

Here is a lesson I have learned recently,

just because your new piece is better than the one you have just made, or is better in comparison to those you are connected to, doesn’t mean that you should stop there. Always ask yourself “is this the best I can do?” And if the answer is no… then keep going. Quality over Quantity.

In the end, for me, its all about personal drive. Do you want to be the best you can be? If the answer is yes, you have heaps to learn and I am sure you will know some areas you aren’t perfect in. So it will take time practicing, learning, watching, trying, trying again and growing.

I have seen some incredible designers go through the journey and I hope this blog helps you take the necessary steps in your development as a digital artist.

But what you really wanna see is a list of people that inspire me? Well I encourage you to find your own, BUT here are a couple that have stood out recently:

]]>https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/18/how-to-achieve-constant-creativity/feed/0220Become a competitive artist.https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/17/become-a-competitive-artist/
https://www.athlitix.com/2017/08/17/become-a-competitive-artist/#respondThu, 17 Aug 2017 23:43:10 +0000https://www.athlitix.com/?p=218Sports. Competition. Winning. If you are a sports designer you most likely love playing and winning, or at least watching your favourite team winning. I LOVE watching my Brisbane Broncos team win and I get real angry when they lose. I LOVE winning games of ultimate frisbee (it doesn’t happen enough) and I am becoming […]

If you are a sports designer you most likely love playing and winning, or at least watching your favourite team winning. I LOVE watching my Brisbane Broncos team win and I get real angry when they lose. I LOVE winning games of ultimate frisbee (it doesn’t happen enough) and I am becoming a better loser (its taking some time).

When it comes to designing, winning should come naturally right? Not really.

I don’t know if you have heard of design leagues or not so let me explain as quickly and brutally as possible. A bunch of people organise “teams” and set designers art work up against each other to be judged on their merits and one is deemed better than the other.

I HATE design leagues. They are disgusting and I hope they all shut down and we never see or hear from them every again.

I HATE any designer who has a competitive attitude to other designers.

I HATE any competitive nature within the design community.

Here is why.

There will come a time when you realise that any artistic community cannot thrive with a competitive spirit. Sports design may struggle with this more than any other artistic community because we design around competition. We design winners, achievers and celebrate the greatness we watch week to week.

You are one of two people.
Either you are a sports person who creates art or You are an artist who loves sports.

And there is a massive difference between the two.

It is in the mindset and maturity of you the individual to understand that the success of you as an artist has very little to do with those in the community and 99.9% on your own decisions, development and direction.

Artists have always existed in community.

We are a strange bunch. Creatives always have been. It’s because of this community that art develops and grows. It is an incredible experience to be around like minded people who encourage me, give me insight and wisdom and inspire me to become a better designer.

With things like Instagram, facebook, behance ect our community is global. I can connect instantly with my mate Chris, (@theardist) who lives in Oakland and we can have a conversation about art anytime we want, for free. We live in an incredible time period and art is changing.

Being competitive to others is out of the question, and I am not really attacking design leagues as much as I am wanting to talk to you, the individual to challenge, encourage and hopefully inspire you that the next time you look at someone else’s profile and their followers, likes and opportunities that you don’t get discouraged, bitter, resentful or angry. Let’s be humbled that we get to connect with amazing people and that the right people want me to succeed.

So why is the title Be a competitive Artists? Simple. You are your greatest competition. You need to competitive with yourself to be the best designer you can be. That means working hard to make sure your attitude is the best it can be. That you are trying new things, working hard in the prep, being humble to ask people the questions to grow and producing better and better artwork as you develop. I’m all about people who want to be the best they can be, but its all about you, not anyone else.